Eastwood MSP, Jackson Carlaw has labelled Scottish Government proposals to increase council tax for households in East Renfrewshire as “outrageous” and a “punitive attack” on residents.
The Scottish Government has announced a public consultation on proposals for council tax rises on homes in bands E-H across Scotland.
The plans would result in council tax rising by 7.5 percent for homeowners in band E, 12.5 percent for band F and 17.5 percent for band G.
Council tax for people with a house categorised as band H would increase by almost a quarter at a rate of 22.5 percent.
The average annual council tax charges for the four highest bands in East Renfrewshire during the current 2023/24 financial year stands at £1859.44 for E, £2299.73 for F, £2771.47 for G and £3467.29 for H.
If implemented, it has been calculated that the Scottish Government plans would see typical annual council tax bills for homeowners in the local authority with a band E property increase by £139.46 to £1998.90 and by £287.47 to £2587.20 for band F properties.
Households in band G would be expected to pay an additional £485.01 per year to make the total £3256.48 and council tax for band H would increase to £4247.43, representing a rise of £780.14.
The consultation is live until Wednesday 20th September and people can comment on the plans via https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/consultation-on-a-fairer-council-tax/
It is proposed that any changes to existing levels of council tax would take effect at the beginning of the 2024/25 financial year.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“The proposals brought forward by the SNP-Green Government to significantly increase council tax rates for bands E-H in a global cost of living crisis is simply outrageous.
“It represents a punitive attack on hard-working people in Eastwood for whom council tax has already risen by eye-watering levels over the previous six years and simply to offset steep Scottish Government cuts to core local authority funding.
“Residents are already paying considerably more in council tax but for fewer local services and it is a wholly unacceptable situation.
“The SNP-Green Government proposals for such a large increase is a hammer blow for many people living in Eastwood.
“The planned hike in council tax must be abandoned by Ministers.”